so......

[Sunny]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932258#msg932258 date=1251203274]

THe most important player in our squad, not currently getting enough time on the pitch is Riera. He gives us balance, width and he retains posession well.
[/quote]

WTF is going on with Riera ? Does anyone know ?

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932258#msg932258 date=1251203274]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=35439.msg932017#msg932017 date=1251154421]
League over already it would seem. We have already lost as many games as last season.

Let's hope for the a CL or Fa cup win.

I think many could see this coming with us not replacing Alonso with an immediate starter and not improving our attack
[/quote]

F**k me... we're exactly 1 point less off from the same games as last year.

Our form has absolutely nothing to do with Alonso, despite it being "popular" to suggest so.

Whlle we continue to play players outwide that are preidsposed to coming inside at every opportunity we are going to struggle to break teams down.

You worry when the only player in the team to offer attacking width is the right back.

THe most important player in our squad, not currently getting enough time on the pitch is Riera. He gives us balance, width and he retains posession well.
[/quote]

Not Alonso in itself, but the pairing that is being utilised until Aquilani is fit just does not work.
I agree with you about Riera, that was the big plus from last year , width on the left, and that evaporated yesterday

regards

 

[StevieM]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=35439.msg932264#msg932264 date=1251203594]
[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932258#msg932258 date=1251203274]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=35439.msg932017#msg932017 date=1251154421]
League over already it would seem. We have already lost as many games as last season.

Let's hope for the a CL or Fa cup win.

I think many could see this coming with us not replacing Alonso with an immediate starter and not improving our attack
[/quote]

F**k me... we're exactly 1 point less off from the same games as last year.

Our form has absolutely nothing to do with Alonso, despite it being "popular" to suggest so.

Whlle we continue to play players outwide that are preidsposed to coming inside at every opportunity we are going to struggle to break teams down.

You worry when the only player in the team to offer attacking width is the right back.

THe most important player in our squad, not currently getting enough time on the pitch is Riera. He gives us balance, width and he retains posession well.
[/quote]

Not Alonso in itself, but the pairing that is being utilised until Aquilani is fit just does not work.
I agree with you about Riera, that was the big plus from last year , width on the left, and that evaporated yesterday

regards
[/quote]

I'm not disagreeing with you Vlad, but apart that silly own goal, Lucas has played alright this season and I don't think his pairing with Mascherano is as bad as people suspect.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I don't think we are playing any worse than we did at the start of last season, it's just that the character/togetherness doesn't seem to be there at the moment.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932335#msg932335 date=1251207608]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=35439.msg932264#msg932264 date=1251203594]
[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932258#msg932258 date=1251203274]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=35439.msg932017#msg932017 date=1251154421]
League over already it would seem. We have already lost as many games as last season.

Let's hope for the a CL or Fa cup win.

I think many could see this coming with us not replacing Alonso with an immediate starter and not improving our attack
[/quote]

F**k me... we're exactly 1 point less off from the same games as last year.

Our form has absolutely nothing to do with Alonso, despite it being "popular" to suggest so.

Whlle we continue to play players outwide that are preidsposed to coming inside at every opportunity we are going to struggle to break teams down.

You worry when the only player in the team to offer attacking width is the right back.

THe most important player in our squad, not currently getting enough time on the pitch is Riera. He gives us balance, width and he retains posession well.
[/quote]

Not Alonso in itself, but the pairing that is being utilised until Aquilani is fit just does not work.
I agree with you about Riera, that was the big plus from last year , width on the left, and that evaporated yesterday

regards
[/quote]

I'm not disagreeing with you Vlad, but apart that silly own goal, Lucas has played alright this season and I don't think his pairing with Mascherano is as bad as people suspect.
[/quote]

Oooh I don't know Stevie, it does not produce many clever forward balls, but a lot of sideways passing.

regards

 

[nornirongooner]

Obviously 2 defeats isn't what you want but to start claiming the seasons over is ridiculous. Arsenal and United, in particular, are going to drop points in the coming games whereas you should, in theory be winning yours.

I saw the game last night and it was a freak result, to be honest. Whilst you may not have been potent enough up front you were all over Villa and can consider yourselves unlucky not to have won, despite what the scorline suggests.

I've said before though, your crying out for another striker. Bringing Voronin on to win you a game just isn't good enough for Liverpool.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35439.msg932019#msg932019 date=1251154504]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=35439.msg932017#msg932017 date=1251154421]
League over already it would seem. We have already lost as many games as last season.

[/quote]

Fuck off.

You might well be right but all the same:

[size=40pt]F U C K O F F ![/size]
[/quote]

x2

Now, I may not believe we can win the league anymore BUT to see our most miserable poster shoving it down our throats does piss me off.

 

[Richey]

[quote author=nornirongooner link=topic=35439.msg932352#msg932352 date=1251209512]
I've said before though, your crying out for another striker. Bringing Voronin on to win you a game just isn't good enough for Liverpool.
[/quote]

Agreed. I am not sure I can recall a time in recent years when we have had a worse set of striking options.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Yeah him along with Rage and his constant "tick tock" posts are doing my head in.

 

[Roopy]

:-[ :-[ :-[

 

[Paddy]

Poor turtle.

 

[HC]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=35439.msg932371#msg932371 date=1251212385]

:-[ :-[ :-[
[/quote]

Entourage - Fit

 

[Rafiagra]

[quote author=Sunny link=topic=35439.msg932262#msg932262 date=1251203348]
[quote author=StevieM link=topic=35439.msg932258#msg932258 date=1251203274]

THe most important player in our squad, not currently getting enough time on the pitch is Riera. He gives us balance, width and he retains posession well.
[/quote]

WTF is going on with Riera ? Does anyone know ?
[/quote]


Where would you play him though? Yossi came on and did really well and so has deserved his place in the team. He also not going to replace Kuyt or Gerrard in that 3.

Babel obv started the season as he has had a full preseason and was given another *chance*

I would have liked to have seen Riera come on last night for Benayoun but you can sort of see the logic with adding Babel's pace at that late stage of the game when the oppo defenders are tired and slowing down.

However, we are now at the stage where Riera HAS to start the next game.

 

[rage]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932355#msg932355 date=1251210080]
Yeah him along with Rage and his constant "tick tock" posts are doing my head in.
[/quote]

carries on like this we'll both have to start looking for a new username 😉

come on mate but this was arguably our worst window ever under rafa. we've lost one of our best players, his replacement is out till at least october and in the meantime we're losing games. rafa's gambled with aquaman and its costing us.

we all know rafa's stubborn and won't change even though 6 seasons in other managers have sussed him. they've worked out how to exploit the zonal marking, how to respond to the predictable 70 minutes substitutions and most significantly they don't fear the likes of voronin and babel and anyone else on the bench.

our past signings are coming back to haunt us. rafa sticking by lucas is costing us as we lose our balance in a 4231 and the likes of torres don't seem to be responding well to rafa's very public style of man management.

rafa's pretty much criticised all of our 'senior players' when is he going to reflect on his own shortcomings do you think? if he remains stubborn and refuses to change and results carry on the way they are he will be sacked.

we all know lucas needs to be dropped immediately. gerrard dropped into the middle. yossi to play behind torres with riera coming in on the left. also, fuck knows what riera has done to merit being frozen the way he has been.

last season when we were losing at home like last night rafa would have gone 3 at the back and gone for it, instead he waited till 70 mins and put voronin on and when it got desperate babel. both voronin and babel's morale can't be good and i can't see how they'd pull us out of the fire. one has been publicly criticised whilst we couldn't get rid of the other - both were rafa buys and clearly not good enough. it says it all when you're relying on people you don't trust to turn things around.

i also think that the off field antics doesn't help but again rafa plays this out in the public domain. we're developing an excuse mentality rather than a winning one. rafa's very public struggle with the owners for more money to buy players imo is resulting in our star players thinking that we're not good enough also without new players. rafa knew when he came in that we would have to win the title based upon management skill rather than a cheque book. i'm not excusing the americans here as i can't stand them but these discussions should not spill into the public domain.

saying this he has spent plenty of money over his 6 summers yet our squad today is paper thin. in a 4231 we have no real cover at right back, the 2 midfield positions until aquaman is fit (i'm counting lucas out here as i think gerrard should be played there for now) the 3 attacking positions (riera, yossi and kuyt) has no depth and upfront bar torres we have no one that will scare defenders.

we are in a really bad position and i honestly think things are falling apart for rafa. i fear that last season will be seen as the closest he ever got to the title.

 

[ILD]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=35439.msg932353#msg932353 date=1251209757]
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35439.msg932019#msg932019 date=1251154504]
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=35439.msg932017#msg932017 date=1251154421]
League over already it would seem. We have already lost as many games as last season.

[/quote]

Fuck off.

You might well be right but all the same:

[size=40pt]F U C K O F F ![/size]
[/quote]

x2

Now, I may not believe we can win the league anymore BUT to see our most miserable poster shoving it down our throats does piss me off.
[/quote]

As I said above, I hate seeing people who seem to enjoy all the doom and gloom mongering and love reiterating it when we lose as if it's an 'I told you so'.

It gives an impression that these people are nearly chuffed when we lose so they can harp on again how season is over, knew this was coming, etc etc. Not saying they wanted us to lose or anything but this constant need to reiterate the fact you knew we'd fail is annoying.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Rage, i don't think it's just me that gets the feeling that you're getting some sort of sick satisfaction from our current situation (it comes across that way anyway imo). The fact is that we are only 3 games in and you've allready started posting about Rafa getting the sack + our season being over.

If after a decent amount of games we are still in this position then fair enough, but as it stands i for one think you're being a cunt with all the doom and gloom posts.

*No offence intended*

 

[rage]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932445#msg932445 date=1251225798]
Rage i don't think it's just me that gets the feeling that you're getting some sort of sick satisfaction from our current situation (it comes across that way anyway imo). The fact is that we are only 3 games in and you've allready started posting about Rafa getting the sack + our season allready being over.

If after a decent amount of games we are still in this position then fair enough, but as it stands i for one think you're being a needless cunt with all the doom and gloom posts.

*No offence intended*


[/quote]

i'm gutted by our current situation and yes i think rafa has responsibility for it. but come on do you think he'll change it against bolton?

do you agree that lucas should be dropped, gerrard put in midfield with yossi behind torres and riera on the left?

ok you might not agree but i reckon most liverpool fans do agree with this yet all of us know that rafa will persevere with lucas and it will continue to cost us.

this is his 6th season. how long should we give him to win the title?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=rage link=topic=35439.msg932446#msg932446 date=1251226134]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932445#msg932445 date=1251225798]
Rage i don't think it's just me that gets the feeling that you're getting some sort of sick satisfaction from our current situation (it comes across that way anyway imo). The fact is that we are only 3 games in and you've allready started posting about Rafa getting the sack + our season allready being over.

If after a decent amount of games we are still in this position then fair enough, but as it stands i for one think you're being a needless cunt with all the doom and gloom posts.

*No offence intended*


[/quote]

i'm gutted by our current situation and yes i think rafa has responsibility for it. but come on do you think he'll change it against bolton?

do you agree that lucas should be dropped, gerrard put in midfield with yossi behind torres and riera on the left?

ok you might not agree but i reckon most liverpool fans do agree with this yet all of us know that rafa will persevere with lucas and it will continue to cost us.

this is his 6th season. how long should we give him to win the title?
[/quote]


Look I'm not getting into a debate about "how long should we give him to win the title", because at this stage of the season it's just pointless.

As I've said in other threads i don't think Lucas is to blame for any of our performances this season, if anything i think he's done better than most of the others wearing our shirt. I personally think that some of our senior players really need to start sorting themselves out quickly, and if you're desperate to point the finger at somebody, then maybe you should start with the likes of Torres and SG.

The whole Riera situation is odd and i suspect that something is going on behind the scenes.

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=rage link=topic=35439.msg932433#msg932433 date=1251224768]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932355#msg932355 date=1251210080]
Yeah him along with Rage and his constant "tick tock" posts are doing my head in.
[/quote]

carries on like this we'll both have to start looking for a new username 😉

come on mate but this was arguably our worst window ever under rafa. we've lost one of our best players, his replacement is out till at least october and in the meantime we're losing games. rafa's gambled with aquaman and its costing us.

we all know rafa's stubborn and won't change even though 6 seasons in other managers have sussed him. they've worked out how to exploit the zonal marking, how to respond to the predictable 70 minutes substitutions and most significantly they don't fear the likes of voronin and babel and anyone else on the bench.

our past signings are coming back to haunt us. rafa sticking by lucas is costing us as we lose our balance in a 4231 and the likes of torres don't seem to be responding well to rafa's very public style of man management.

rafa's pretty much criticised all of our 'senior players' when is he going to reflect on his own shortcomings do you think? if he remains stubborn and refuses to change and results carry on the way they are he will be sacked.

we all know lucas needs to be dropped immediately. gerrard dropped into the middle. yossi to play behind torres with riera coming in on the left. also, fuck knows what riera has done to merit being frozen the way he has been.

last season when we were losing at home like last night rafa would have gone 3 at the back and gone for it, instead he waited till 70 mins and put voronin on and when it got desperate babel. both voronin and babel's morale can't be good and i can't see how they'd pull us out of the fire. one has been publicly criticised whilst we couldn't get rid of the other - both were rafa buys and clearly not good enough. it says it all when you're relying on people you don't trust to turn things around.

i also think that the off field antics doesn't help but again rafa plays this out in the public domain. we're developing an excuse mentality rather than a winning one. rafa's very public struggle with the owners for more money to buy players imo is resulting in our star players thinking that we're not good enough also without new players. rafa knew when he came in that we would have to win the title based upon management skill rather than a cheque book. i'm not excusing the americans here as i can't stand them but these discussions should not spill into the public domain.

saying this he has spent plenty of money over his 6 summers yet our squad today is paper thin. in a 4231 we have no real cover at right back, the 2 midfield positions until aquaman is fit (i'm counting lucas out here as i think gerrard should be played there for now) the 3 attacking positions (riera, yossi and kuyt) has no depth and upfront bar torres we have no one that will scare defenders.

we are in a really bad position and i honestly think things are falling apart for rafa. i fear that last season will be seen as the closest he ever got to the title.
[/quote]

I prefer to consider it our worst window under Hicks and Gillette.

 

[Le Chacal]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932355#msg932355 date=1251210080]
Yeah him along with Rage and his constant "tick tock" posts are doing my head in.
[/quote]
Relieved Im not in your agenda anymore...

 

[rage]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932455#msg932455 date=1251227455]
[quote author=rage link=topic=35439.msg932446#msg932446 date=1251226134]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35439.msg932445#msg932445 date=1251225798]
Rage i don't think it's just me that gets the feeling that you're getting some sort of sick satisfaction from our current situation (it comes across that way anyway imo). The fact is that we are only 3 games in and you've allready started posting about Rafa getting the sack + our season allready being over.

If after a decent amount of games we are still in this position then fair enough, but as it stands i for one think you're being a needless cunt with all the doom and gloom posts.

*No offence intended*


[/quote]

i'm gutted by our current situation and yes i think rafa has responsibility for it. but come on do you think he'll change it against bolton?

do you agree that lucas should be dropped, gerrard put in midfield with yossi behind torres and riera on the left?

ok you might not agree but i reckon most liverpool fans do agree with this yet all of us know that rafa will persevere with lucas and it will continue to cost us.

this is his 6th season. how long should we give him to win the title?
[/quote]


Look I'm not getting into a debate about "how long should we give him to win the title", because at this stage of the season it's just pointless.

As I've said in other threads i don't think Lucas is to blame for any of our performances this season, if anything i think he's done better than most of the others wearing our shirt. I personally think that some of our senior players really need to start sorting themselves out quickly, and if you're desperate to point the finger at somebody, then maybe you should start with the likes of Torres and SG.

The whole Riera situation is odd and i suspect that something is going on behind the scenes.
[/quote]

this is the simple bit. gerrard is dropping deep to cover for lucas' passing and tempo shortcomings leaving torres very isolated up front.

drop lucas, put gerrard in the middle and you'll see a very different liverpool team.